Artwork
Lot drinking (Berlin fragment)
Lot drinking (Berlin fragment) is a paint painting by the Mannerist artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1532 by the German painter Hans Baldung Grien, Lot drinking is a small oil work that survives as a fragment in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. The piece belongs to Baldung’s religious genre output and portrays the biblical figure Lot in a moment of quiet contemplation. Though modest in size, the painting exemplifies the artist’s skill in rendering human expression and material texture.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on an elderly Lot, identifiable by his bald head and flowing white beard, as he lifts a reflective metal cup to his lips. The solemn gaze and restrained gesture suggest a pause for reflection amid the narrative of Lot’s exile, emphasizing themes of survival and piety within the broader biblical story.
Technique & Style
Baldung employs a stark chiaroscuro, using a deep, unlit background to isolate the figure and accentuate the play of light across his face and robe. The soft modeling of skin and the gleam of the cup demonstrate the artist’s interest in texture, while the limited palette and precise brushwork reflect his Mannerist leanings and the influence of his teacher Albrecht Dürer.
History & Provenance
The fragment entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, where it remains on display. Its survival as a cut-down portion suggests that the original composition was larger, a common fate for many works of the period that were later altered or repurposed.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass…
